--- title: What design changes are allowed when building safe storage for medicines description: The design of strong rooms for medicines is often regulated by government authorities. When standards cannot be fulfiled, there are still options. image: https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hubfs/Blog/strong-room16-9.webp --- [Skip to the main content.](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/what-design-changes-are-allowed-when-building-safe-storage-for-medicines#main-content) [![Gunnebo-SS-logo-RGB](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hubfs/Gunnebo-SS-logo-RGB.svg "Gunnebo-SS-logo-RGB")](https://www.gunnebosafestorage.com) [![Gunnebo-SS-logo-RGB](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hubfs/Gunnebo-SS-logo-RGB.svg "Gunnebo-SS-logo-RGB")](https://www.gunnebosafestorage.com) - [Security Solutions](https://www.gunnebosafestorage.com/en/security-solutions) - [Industries](https://www.gunnebosafestorage.com/en/Industries) - [Customer cases](https://www.gunnebosafestorage.com/en/customer-cases) - [About us](https://www.gunnebosafestorage.com/en/about-us/) - [Contact us](https://www.gunnebosafestorage.com/en/Contact) - [Insights](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights) - Language - [Polish /](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/pl-pl/insights) - [Italian](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/it-it/insights) - [Spanish](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/es/insights) - [German](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/de-de/insights) - [French](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/fr/insights) Search Toggle Menu Search Toggle Menu - [Security Solutions](https://www.gunnebosafestorage.com/en/security-solutions) - [Industries](https://www.gunnebosafestorage.com/en/Industries) - [Customer cases](https://www.gunnebosafestorage.com/en/customer-cases) - [About us](https://www.gunnebosafestorage.com/en/about-us/) - [Contact us](https://www.gunnebosafestorage.com/en/Contact) - [Insights](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights) - Language - [Polish /](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/pl-pl/insights) - [Italian](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/it-it/insights) - [Spanish](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/es/insights) - [German](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/de-de/insights) - [French](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/fr/insights) [Facebook](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/what-design-changes-are-allowed-when-building-safe-storage-for-medicines#0) [Instagram](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/what-design-changes-are-allowed-when-building-safe-storage-for-medicines#0) [Linkedin](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/what-design-changes-are-allowed-when-building-safe-storage-for-medicines#0) [X](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/what-design-changes-are-allowed-when-building-safe-storage-for-medicines#0) [YouTube](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/what-design-changes-are-allowed-when-building-safe-storage-for-medicines#0) [Medium](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/what-design-changes-are-allowed-when-building-safe-storage-for-medicines#0) 2 min read # What design changes are allowed when building safe storage for medicines [![Picture of Darran Bailey](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hubfs/Portraits/0.jpg) Darran Bailey](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/author/darran-bailey) : May 20, 2020, 12:15:00 PM [strong rooms](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/tag/strong-rooms) [safe storage of medicines](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/tag/safe-storage-of-medicines) ![What design changes are allowed when building safe storage for medicines](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hubfs/Blog/strong-room16-9.webp) To be practical, some deviation from the official government design regulations for storage of controlled drugs can sometimes be accepted, provided they are proven to be secure. Here we cover some of the most important ones. ## ![five-sided-strong-rooms](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogg%20SS/five-sided-strong-rooms.png?width=250&name=five-sided-strong-rooms.png)Five-sided room According to the standards stated in the [UK Home Office Security Guidance for Controlled Drugs](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/857591/Security_Guidance_for_all_Businesses_and_Other_Organisations_v1.4_Jan_2020.pdf) a strong room for pharmaceutical products should be constructed with six sides. In practice, pharma strong rooms are never built with 6 sides but are instead 5-sided rooms secured into a concrete slab, for which the UK Home Office ministerial department allow a concession. Specifically, strong room floor panels can be replaced with a minimum 150 mm thick concrete floor, provided the wall panels are secured from the inside using 100x100x10 steel angles and M16 bolts with minimum sheer capacity of 124kN. ## ![strong-room-threshold](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogg%20SS/strong-room-threshold.png?width=350&name=strong-room-threshold.png)Door threshold sunk into floor Another aspect to be considered when moving away from a six-sided strong room to a five-sided solution, is the easy passing of forklift trucks that are going in and out the room. On a 5-sided room, you must sink the threshold of the door into the floor, so the level access for the forklift truck to pass over is still maintained. ## ![strong-room-sprinkler-holes](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogg%20SS/strong-room-sprinkler-holes.png?width=350&name=strong-room-sprinkler-holes.png)Sprinkler penetration holes in wall panels Especially in strong rooms that are designed to store pharmaceutical products such as expensive controlled drugs, a sprinkler piping makes good sense that in the event of a fire, the damage can be kept to a minimum. To be able to install sprinkler piping to protect both people and the product being stored, there is a concession made to allow a penetration of 150 mm, provided it fully plugs that hole and it is in the sidewall, set a minimum of 1 m from the roof. ## ![strong-room-high-doors](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogg%20SS/strong-room-high-doors.png?width=250&name=strong-room-high-doors.png) Doors suitable for forklift trucks with high masts A further important aspect is to design the solution in a way that forklift trucks with high mast can access the strong room through a door that is wide and tall enough. The doors on Gunnebo’s strong room installations for example can be single or double leaf, with Grade VI barrier material and provide up to 5 m height x 2 m wide clear passage for forklift trucks.   Want to learn more about the important factors to consider when planning a strong room and the key things you should look for in a supplier? If so, download our free PDF entitled “Strong Rooms for Controlled Drugs: A Guide for the Pharma Sector” by [clicking here](https://info.gunnebosafestorage.com/strong-room-guide-for-storage-of-controlled-drugs?hsLang=en). [![Free guide - strong rooms for pharma companies](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2752115/7fc1b312-98c2-4c8a-8be6-9372dce50496.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2752115/7fc1b312-98c2-4c8a-8be6-9372dce50496) Based on our long experience at Gunnebo as a trusted supplier of strong rooms for controlled drugs, we are happy to support you in any project in which you are looking to work with a professional, well-reputed and reliable partner. Get in touch with us, [click here](https://www.gunnebosafestorage.com/en/contact).          - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![Why UK Pharma Logistics Need Strongrooms for Safe Storage](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hubfs/iStock-162423293-format16-9.jpg)](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/safe-custody-of-controlled-drugs-why-uk-pharma-companies-need-strong-rooms?hsLang=en) #### [Why UK Pharma Logistics Need Strongrooms for Safe Storage](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/safe-custody-of-controlled-drugs-why-uk-pharma-companies-need-strong-rooms?hsLang=en) ![Picture of Darran Bailey](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Portraits/0.jpg?width=30&name=0.jpg) [Darran Bailey](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/author/darran-bailey) : May 7, 2020, 12:15:00 PM Any company working with or handling controlled drugs (CDs) in the UK pharmaceutical industry, including manufacturers, packaging companies,... [strong rooms](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/tag/strong-rooms) [safe custody of controlled drugs](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/tag/safe-custody-of-controlled-drugs) [Read More](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/safe-custody-of-controlled-drugs-why-uk-pharma-companies-need-strong-rooms?hsLang=en) [![6 key considerations when designing a strong room for medicine storage](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hubfs/Blog/controlled-drugs-on-shelves-some2.webp)](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/6-important-considerations-when-designing-a-strong-room-for-medicine-storage?hsLang=en) #### [6 key considerations when designing a strong room for medicine storage](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/6-important-considerations-when-designing-a-strong-room-for-medicine-storage?hsLang=en) ![Picture of Darran Bailey](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Portraits/0.jpg?width=30&name=0.jpg) [Darran Bailey](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/author/darran-bailey) : May 14, 2020, 12:15:00 PM Strong room design can be complex. Here we go through some major design aspects that can help make sure your new strong room for safe storage of... [strong rooms](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/tag/strong-rooms) [medicine storage](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/tag/medicine-storage) [Read More](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/6-important-considerations-when-designing-a-strong-room-for-medicine-storage?hsLang=en) [![Controlled drug storage: What to expect from a strongroom supplier](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hubfs/Blogg%20SS/iStock-956989024-16-9.jpg)](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/controlled-drug-storage-requirements-what-you-need-from-a-strong-room-supplier?hsLang=en) #### [Controlled drug storage: What to expect from a strongroom supplier](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/controlled-drug-storage-requirements-what-you-need-from-a-strong-room-supplier?hsLang=en) ![Picture of Darran Bailey](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Portraits/0.jpg?width=30&name=0.jpg) [Darran Bailey](https://blog.gunnebosafestorage.com/insights/author/darran-bailey) : May 28, 2020, 12:15:00 PM Getting a strong room for medicine storage that fully fits your business needs, and also meets all legal requirements for security, is not as easy as... 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